A study on the role of human rights in peace agreements will be launched in Davao City and in Manila next week. The study commissioned by the Geneva-based International Council on Human Rights Policy sought to determine whether a “a fresh and new perspective of human rights in peace agreements” can help the peace process in the Philippines.
Study report on human rights in peace agreements to be launched in the Philippines and Mindanao
MANILA — Can a human rights framework help our floundering peace processes?
The 2006 study report of the Geneva-based International Council on Human Rights Policy (ICHRP) is being launched this week in the Philippines and Mindanao at a time that peace remains elusive despite several finished and ongoing peace processes. Will a fresh and new perspective of human rights in peace agreements help add impetus to some of these floundering processes?
This will hopefully be answered at the Philippine and Mindanao launching-forums of the ICHRP titled Negotiating Justice? Human Rights and Peace Agreements organized the new Filipino-led global initiative South-South Network (SSN) represented by its Regional Focal Point for Asia Atty. Soliman M. Santos Jr., in cooperation too with its Mindanao partner Technical Assistance Center for the Development of Rural and Urban Poor (TACDRUP) led by its Executive Director Rey Magno Teves.
The Philippine launching-forum will be held on November 14 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Magellan function room, 41st Floor, Discovery Suites, 25 ADB Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The Mindanao launching-forum will be held on November 16 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Waling-Waling Room, Apo View Hotel, Camus St., Davao City.
The ICHRP report examines the experience with human rights provisions and monitoring mechanisms in the peace agreements of eight countries, namely Cambodia 1991, El Salvador 1992, Mozambique 1992, Bosnia-Herzegovina 1995, Guatemala 1996, Northern Ireland 1998, Sierra Leone 1999, and Burundi 2000. In the process, it discusses how human rights standards can be used constructively in peace processes.
The report develops three main themes to identify areas of tension and complementation between human rights and justice, on one hand, and conflict resolution and peace, on the other hand. These are the themes of frameworks for protection of civilians, forcible displacement of communities, and impunity and accountability for past abuses.
The report will be presented by the ICHRP Executive Director Robert Archer. Reactors at the Philippine launching-forum on November 14 are Prof. Sedfrey M. Candelaria, member of the GRP peace panel for talks with the NDF, and Datu Michael O. Mastura, member of the MILF peace panel. Expected reactors at the Mindanao launching-forum on November 16 are Atty. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate, former president of the IBP Davao City Chapter, and Atty. Mary Ann M. Arnado, leading Mindanao peace advocate.
Key stakeholders and concerned sectors in the areas of human rights and peace processes have been among those invited to both launching-forums. They are expected to actively participate in the open forum by seeking to draw out the relevance of the report to the Philippine and Mindanao armed conflicts and peace processes on the Communist and Moro fronts of the country.
For participation inquiries for the Philippine launching-forum on November 14, interested parties in the Metro Manila area may contact the SSN secretariat at Tel. 4138821 or Doods (0918-3487424) or Kara (0915-7877078). While those in the Davao area interested in the Mindanao launching-forum on November 16 may contact the TACDRUP secretariat at Tel. 2972215 or 2978245 or Lourdes (0919-4991135) or Dondon (0917-7193467).
Peace Process
